The U.S. Dept. Of Health and Human Services announced a second-year Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) award of $202,081,355 for West Virginia on Monday.
The amount represents an increase of roughly $2.6 milllion over the state’s first year award and brings the total for the first two years to more than $401 million for improvements to rural healthcare in all 55 counties.
“This additional $202 million will help us expand access to care, strengthen rural hospitals, and address the chronic health challenges facing West Virginia,” Gov. Patrick Morrisey said. “We’re building a healthcare system that improves health outcomes, brings quality care closer to home, and helps more West Virginians get healthy and return to the workforce.”
The first year funds have been used to restore maternal healthcare services, expand mobile clinics and telehealth, address workforce shortages and improve treatment of chronic diseases like diabetes.
Morrisey said the funding will help more West Virginians get healthy and return to the workforce.
The Rural Health Transformation Program is part of President Trump’s $50 billion, five-year initiative to update rural healthcare nationwide.